NASSAU, Bahamas — A ***** warning issued Tuesday by the U.S. Embassy in the Bahamas has singled out operators of personal watercraft or *** skis.

The embassy issued the alert following the ************** of a U.S. citizen by a man on one of the watercraft on Cabbage Beach. The Royal Bahamas ****** Force said a 26-year-old man was taken into custody as a suspect in the Jan. 2 ******.

The embassy said there had been five ****** assaults of U.S. citizens by ***-ski operators in Nassau since July. The embassy banned its staff from using ***-ski rental companies because of insufficient regulation. It recommended U.S. citizens not use them either.

The Bahamas Ministry of Transport said in response to the warning that the suspect in the most recent ******** was not a licensed commercial operator and not involved in the rental industry. It noted in a statement that all *** ski operators are subjected to “full vetting” by ****** but added that “despite our efforts, challenges do remain.” Ministry officials planned to discuss the issue with operators and business owners Wednesday.

The embassy expressed similar concerns last year about ***-ski operators as well as rising ***** in general in the Bahamas.